Factors associated with emergency room choice among Medicare patients.

Changing macroenvironmental factors have caused hospital administrators to reassess their positions across all service lines and market segments. This pilot study explores relationships among the service experience, satisfaction and future patronage decisions among 368 Medicare patients, an often overlooked segment, who were recent users of a hospital emergency room. Results show widespread dissatisfaction with aspects of care. Many of these patients report that they do not intend to return to the same emergency room and would discourage others from choosing it.